Is it okay to pray for animals?

I am taking a time out from boot camp today to write about something that is heavy on my heart. My precious cat, Bandit, had to have emergency surgery on Saturday due to a blocked urinary tract. He is still having issues, so my family and I have been very sad this weekend. I have said many prayers for him over the past few days. I hate to admit that I have been very critical in the past about praying for animals, because they don’t have souls. Today, I have changed my mind.

After pondering this thought all day, I have concluded that our God is a big God. He is the creator of everything. Have you ever gaze at God’s creation and thanked Him for the beauty of it all? Many famous artists have captured God’s magnificent creation on canvas, but He is the original painter. He created my precious kitty, so he cares about him. God cares for His children so much, that we can take anything great or small to Him in prayer.

If you have struggled with praying for animals, I have found some verses to help you with this struggle.

1. God cared about the livestock of Israel.

“So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died” Exodus 9:6 (NKJV)

2. This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. God cares about the birds and the flowers. When you are feeling down, remember that even though creation is important to God, you are of more value to Him than the birds and the flowers.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV).

3. God says in Job 38-39 that He looks after nature, including the weather and the animals. If you haven’t read these lately, then read them to remind yourself of God’s majesty and the splendor of His magnificent creation.

4. Another of my favorite promises to pray.

“Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart”Psalm 37:4 (NKJV).

5. Last but not least.

“Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” 1 John 3:22 (NKJV).

If you still have a difficult time praying for animals, then pray for animals and the lost people you know. God can handle it, because He is a big God. Just make sure you don’t love your pets more than the souls of people.

1 Comment on Is it okay to pray for animals?

How about – For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭22‬ NASB)

As you’ve already pointed out, it’s not just us. It’s all of creation. Including animals. My wife and I have called friends to pray for our dogs. Including our pastor. And I’m sure that God places animals in our lives for good reasons. I’ve posted about some of them.
So you’re not alone in asking the question. I think, as with all prayers, it depends on things like why and how does the prayer and the animal relate to our relationship with God.
I’ll pray with you.